Means for operating the switches, frogs, and signals of electric tramways.



No. 835,006. PATENTED NOV- 6 1906.

-L. ATKINSON.

MEANS-FOR OPERATING rns-swncnmfnoes, AND SIGNALS 0F ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS.

AgPLIOATIOH FILED APB.18,1906.I

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- L. ATKINSON- MEANS FOR OPERATING THE SWITGHES, FROGS, AND SIGNALS 0F PATENTED'NOV. 6, 19 06.

BLBGTRIG TRAMWAYS.

APPLICATION FILED APR.18,190B.

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f To all whom it may concern.-

UNITED .S TATES "P T NT OFFICE.

LEONARD ATKINSON,- ,oi .O RISTOH ROH',NEW Z'EALANDQ MEANS FOR oaratrme 'THESWIICHQS, moss, AND slams F ELECTRIC TRAMWAYS.

- Be'it known that I, LEONARD A'rxINsoN, a

- subject of His Majesty the'King of Great Britain and Ireland, residing. at 45 Worcester street, Christchurch, in the Provincial District ofOanterbury,.in the Colony of New Zealand, have invented certaimnew and .use-.

'fulImprovements in Means for Operating the Switches, Frogs, and Si nals of Electric Tram ways, of which the to lowing is a specifica- The object of this invention is to provide means whereby the switches,- frogs, and signals used upon tramwaysmay be operated .from the platform, of a tram-car. Without requiring themotorman to leave his position.

. o struction in a street.

The means for o erating, the switches and si nals 'are'a'pplic'alile for use u on railways. .Theimeans which areemploye may be used upon existing tramways and do not cause an According hereto a drag-arm is pivoted to the traction-truck of the car at'the center of the'track and is operable from spring-open atedme'chanism, which brings the drag-arm within the control of the motorman. A hook provided upon the free end of the drag-arm is made .to contact as desired with as ringo erated cam pivoted in a box'sunk elow t e surface of the street A connecting-rod is pivoted to-the cam and at its other endis pivoted to a lever rovided with; a springoperated pawl, whic engages with a ratchetwheel secured u on an. axle sup orted in bearings rovide inthe chamber elow the level of t e trackfthe'said lever being con- 1. tained in a channel extending from the said box to the chamber, a recess being formed in the top of the box through which the cam projects at a levelwith the surface of the street. A drum" fixed to the axle ofthe .ribs formed upon it'ssurface.

. ratchet-wheel has zigzag guides, which may be grooves, as shown, cut. into the drum or The drum is provided with a detent, which is depressed y the ratchet-wheel lever to liberate the ratchet-wheel when the cam is operated. A sliding frame isfitted. upon a carriage .in front of the drum andlprovided with flanges, between which are introduced frames separated by a Washer fixed to a'rod, which passes through one of the springs and one of the flanges and is connected atits other end to the switch of the tram-rail. The sliding frame is provided with a'fric'tionroller which engages "the guides of the drum; When the phore.

Patented Nov. 6, 1906.

drag-arm is lowered by the driver, its free end passes into a ta' ering approach formed upon the top of the ox and comes into contact with the cam, to which the connectingrod is pivoted. The pawl is operated, causing the drum to move the slidlng frame laterallyand the rod attached to the switch. The connecting-rod is drawn back to its normal position by a hook provided for the purpose, pandthe detent is depressed after retaining the drum ready for the next movement of the cam. The overhead frog for changing the trolley-wheel from one branch to another of the overhead-conductor cable is operated simultaneously with the switch by means of a stud provided upon one of the flanges of the sliding frame, which engages in the slot of a lever pivoted at one end'tothe end of the chamber and at the other end secured to a line passing around a pulley pivoted in the chamber to one of the columns which support the overhead-conductor cable. The lines pass over ulleys and up the said column and alongt e overhead wires to frog, the tongue of which is operated by a sliding frame similar to that described in the case of the switch. In order to announce the approach of a car toward. the switch, a.

box similar to that previously described is sunk into the ground at a distance from the switch. A'cord o erated by the cam and leverpasses aroun a pulleyandis ledto the before-mentioned columns, up which it passes and is connected tothe tail-arm of a sema- The semaphore is raised by the dragarm operating the cam and is retained in a raised position by a pawl. .When the semaphore 1s raised, the tail-arm closes an electrical circuit to operate an electrical bell and light an electrica lamp having a red-colored globe. The semaphore is lowered by means of a vertical eg projecting upwardly into the groove of t e rail and pivoted at its lower end to a spring-operated lever, to the free end of which a line is attached. The line extends to the column and passing around pulleys is connected to the pawl of the semaphore. After the car has passed the switch the wheel of the car depresses the eg and releasing the pawl allows the semap ore to fall, breakingk the electrical circuit and switching the 1g t from the red lamp to another lamp having a green globe.

The drawings illustrate the invention. Figure 1 is a dia rammatic view showing the switch, frog, an signal in position. Fig.

2 is an elevation of part of a tram-car, showing diagrammatically the parts for operating the switch. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of mechanism for operating the v drag-arm. Fig. 4 is a plan, and Fig. 5 an elevation, partly in section, on line A A, Fig. 4, of the mechanism for operating the switch. Fig. 6 is a plan showing the tapering approach to the box. Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation on line B B, Fig. 4, showing the ratchet-wheel and its attachments. Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 9 is .a side elevation, partly in section, on line C C, Fig. 4, of the mechanism for operating the frog. Fig. 10 is a side elevation, Fig. 11 is a plan, and Fig. 12 a front view, of .a frog. Fig. 13 is a sectional elevation on line D D, Fig. 11. Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation on line E E, Fig. 11. Fig. 15 is a front elevation of a column with semaphores and electric lamps. Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation of the head of a column. Fig. 17 is a section of a tramwayrail, showing the peg for operating the semaphore-pawl; and Fig. 18 is a sectional elevation of the box containing the cam for operating the semaphore.

Referring to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 to 8, the drag-arm 1 has a hooked end 2 and is pivoted .upon a pin 3 to a bracket 4, depending from the frame 5 of the tram-car 6. The upper part -7 of-the drag-arm telescopes upon the lower part of the arm,which is connected by a pin 8, passing through slots 9, provided on both sides of the part 7, .to a washer :10. Another washer 11, secured to the part 7,.retains a spring .12 in compression against the washer 10. The washer 11 has a flange 13, upon which rests another spring 14 in compression against .a washer 15, which rests upon the frame 5. A rod 16 is pivoted by a pin 17 to the flange 13 and at its upper end is pivoted to the arm 18 of a bell-crank lever, which is fulcrumed .upon a pin 19. The other arm 20 of the bellcrank lever is coupled by a connecting-rod 2-1 to a second bell-crank lever 22, fulcrumed upon a pin 23 and connected by a .rod 24 to a plate 25 by a pin 26, which engages in a slot 27 of the said plate. A-bracket 28, fixed .to the platform of the car bybolts 29, has a shaft 30, to which the plate 25 is fixed. A lever 31 is also fixed to the shaft and extends .to a convenient distance within reach of the motormans foot and has an end 32 adapted to be engaged by his foot. By raising the lever 31 the plate 25 is thrown over to the position shown by dotted lines, the pin 26 being drawn .down the slot by the action of the spring 14 after the set-pin 26 has passed through the otherside to the center of the shaft 30. The

drag-arm 1 is then in operative position for operating the switch mechanism, which will now be described. The spring 12 is provided to obviate shock when the hook 2 strikes the Switch apparatus.

Fig. :5 shows the drag.-

arm 1 in operative position against a cam 33, pivoted upon a pin 34 in a box 35, which is sunk below the level of the street at a short distance in advance of the switch and having a tapering approach 36, as shown in Fig. 6. The cam 33 has a tail-arm 37, to which is pivoted a connecting-rod 38 and to which is connected a spring 39, the other end of the spring being attached to the end of the box 35. The other end of the connecting-rod 38 is coupled by a pin 40 to a lever 41, mounted freely upon a shaft 42 and provided with a spring-operated paw-l 43. The shaft 42 is mounted in bearin s 63, secured by .bolts 64 to the bottom of a chamber 65. A ratchet-wheel 44, secured to the shaft 42, is engaged by the pawl 43 when the cam 33 is operated. A spring-detent 45, which is reinforced by a spiral spring 46, has a lug 47, which engages the teeth 48 of the drum 48 when the connecting-rod 38 is operated by the cam 33. When thecam is rocked by the tension of the spring 39, the end of the lever 41 strikes the detent 45 and removes the lug 47 from engagement with the teeth ofthe drum 48. The drum 48, fixed to the shaft 42, has a zigzag groove 49, adapted to engage a roller 50, mounted on a pin 50, integral with a sliding frame 51, and a block 52, mounted in a guide 53, provided with a cap54, secured bybolts 55. At each apex of the groove 49 an indent 49" is provided .to form a restin -place for the roller 50, the compression of either of the springs and 61 holding the roller in the indent until the drum is again operated. The revolution of the drum moves the sliding frame 51 laterally. The cam 33 is arranged to .move the drum through a quarter of a revolution at each operation. The sliding frame, therefore, moves first to the right and then to the left, and so on successively. A rod 56 passes through the flanged .ends 57 and 58 of the :frame 51 and has secured .upon it a washer 59. Sprin s 60 and 6;1.are interposed between the washer 59 and the flanges 57 and 58, respectively. The movement of the frame 51 is thus transmitted to the .rod 56 through springs 60 and .61. The other end of the rod 56 is coupled in any ordinary manner to the switch62 of the tramway-mi Referring now more particularly to Figs. 9 to 14, the frog is operated by the following mechanism: The flange 58 is provided with a stud 66, which engages with a slot 67 in a :lever 68, pivoted to the side of the chamber by a pin .69. The lateral movement of the rod oscillates the lever 68, which has a line 70 attached to its free end. The line passes around a pulley 71 and thence around suitable guide-pulleys .to the column 73. The cords pass up the said column around pulleys 74 and extend to the frog 75, being connected thel'ewith by means of a sliding frame 76, having flanges 77 and 78. The tongue 79 .of the frog 1118.8 an upwardly-ex- '77 and 78.

tending flange 80, passing through a slot 81 a in the bottom of-the frame 7 6 and upon each side of the said flange '80 is provided a coilspring 83 in compression against the flanges One end of the cord 70 is attached to the flange 77 after passin round a pulley 83, and the other end of the line is attached to the flange 78. The oscillation of the lever thus operates. the tongue 79. by

means of a cord 7 and the sliding frame 76. 1

Referringnow to the means for operating the signals, and more'particularly to Figs.

to 18, a box 84, similar in construction to box 35, is provided with a cam 85, similar to cam 33, and is placed below. the surface of the ground at any required distance inadvance of a switch. A cord 86 passes around a pulley 87 and has one end attached to a lever 88, pivoted upon a pin 89 and coupled to the tail-arm 90 o the cam 85 by connecting-rod 91. A cord 86 passes outward from the box 84 to the column 73, through the head of which it is guided by pulleys 92, 93, and. 94

to the tail-arm 95 of asema hore 96,, which is trical circuit supplied with electricity from any suitable source for illuminating the electric lamp 106, provided. with a red globe.

.The' falling of the arm also separates the .contacts 116 and 117. After the car has passed the' oints its wheels pass over a peg 107,

whic projects intothe groove. of the rail, and

-is pivoted at its lower end to a. lever 108,

which is fulcrumed upon a in 109.in a box 110, placed in the ground a ongs'ide the rail. The other end of the lever. is' secured to a line 111, which passes from the box 110 around a pulley 112 to the column 73 and isguidei through the head of the column. by pulleys 92, 93, 94, and 113 to a spring-operated pawl 114, pivoted to the column upon .a pin 115.

The passage of the wheel of the car depresses the peg 107, which operates the lever 108 and the'cord 111 to raise the pawl 114, and thus .release the semaphore, which falls down by gravity to the position shown by 96 in Fig. 16, the spring 1 19-causing lever 108 to replace peg 107 in position for next operation. The contacts104 and 105 are separated by their spring when the tail-arm 95 rises, and the contacts 116 and 117, which had been separated by the depression of the tail-arm .95, are brought together and the circuit of the lamp 118, which has a green globe, is closed and a green light shown.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patentv of the United States, is

1. For the purpose indicated, in combination, a drag-arm having a hooked end, a

bracket attached to atram-car and to which the drag-arm is pivoted, a s'lotted plate, connecting-rods and bell-crank levers coupling the drag-arm to the slotted plate, a shaft to :which the plate is secured, a bracket in which the shaft is mounted, a lever secured to the shaft, a spring for retaining the drag-arm in its lowered position, a box sunk lnto the ground adapted to enga e the drag-arm and a chain pivoted to the side of the box, a tapered approach leading to the cam, a tail- Y arm to the cam, a s ring in tension having one end secured to t esaid tail-arm and its other end secured to the box, a chamber sunk in the ground in advance of the box, bearings secured to the box, a shaft mounted in the bearings, a lever mounted freely on the shaft,

a connecting-rodcoupling the cam to the lever, a spring-operated pawl pivoted to the lever, a ratchet-wheel secured to the shaft and engaging the pawl, a drum having a zigzag groove and secured to the shaft, meansfor retaining the d rum, ,a sliding frame having end flanges, guides in which the SllCl-r ing frame is mounted, a pin integral with the sliding frame. and engaging the roove of the drum, a rod passing through t e flanges of the sliding frame, a washer secured upon the rod, springs upon the rod and between the washer and the flanges, and means for coupling the rod to the switch of a tramway-rail,

as set forth.

2. For the purposeindicated, in combination, a drag-arm having a hooked end, a bracket attached to a tram-car and to which, the drag-arm is pivoted, a slotted plate, connecting-rods and bell-crank lever'scoupling the drag-arm .to the slotted plate, a shaft to which the plate is secured, a bracket in which the shaft is mounted, a lever secured to the shaft, a spring for retaining the drag-arm in its lowered position, a box sunk into the ground. adapted to engage the drag-arm and a cam pivoted to the side of the box, atapered a proach leading to the cam, a tailarm to t e cam, a spring in tension having one end secured to the said tail-arm and its other end secured to the box, a chamber sunk in the ground in advance of the box, bearings secured to the box, a shaft mounted in the bearings, a lever mounted freely on the shaft, a connecting-rod coupling the cam to the lever, a spring-operated pawl pivoted to the lever, a ratchet-Wheel secured to the shaft and engaging the pawl, a drum having a zigzag groove and secured to the shaft, means for retaining the drum, a sliding frame having end flanges, guides in which the sliding frame is mounted, a pin integral with the sliding frame and engaging the roove of the drum, a rod passing through t e flanges of the sliding frame, a washer secured upon the rod, springs upon the rod and between the washer and the flanges, and means for coupling the rod to the switch of a tramway-rail, a stud upon the sliding frame, a lever pivoted upon the end of the chamber and having a slot engaging the stud, a lineattached to the end of the lever, a conduit through which the line passes to a standard, pulleys guiding the line toward, up the interior of and from a standard to a frog, a sliding frame mounted on the frog and having flanges to which the ends of the line are attached, a flange on the tongue of the frog projecting through a slot in the sliding frame and a spring between each side of the flange of the frog and the flanges of the sliding frame, substantially as set forth.

3. For the purpose indicated, in combination, a drag-arm having a hooked end, a bracket attached to a tram-car and to which the drag-arm is pivoted, a slotted plate, connecting-rods and bell-crank levers coupling the drag-arm to the slotted plate, a shaft to which the plate is secured, a bracket in which the shaft is mounted, a lever secured to the shaft, a spring for retaining the drag-arm in its lowered position, a box'sunk into the ground adapted to engage the drag-arm and a cam pivoted to the side of the box, a tapered approach leading to the cam, a tailarm to the cam, a spring in tension having one end secured to the said tail-arm and its other end secured to the box, a chamber sunk in the ground in advance of the box, bearings secured to the box, a shaft mounted in the bearings, a lever mounted freely on the shaft, a connecting-rod coupling the cam to the lever, a spring-operated pawl pivoted to the lever, a ratchetrwheel secured to the shaft and engaging the pawl, a drum having a zigzag groove and secured to the shaft means for retaining the drum, a sliding frame having end flanges, guides in which the sliding frame is mounted, a pin integral with the sliding frame and engaging the groove of the drum, a rod passing through the flanges of the sliding frame, a Washer secured upon the rod, springs upon the rod and between the washer and the flanges, and means for coupling the rod to the switch of a tramway-rail, a stud upon the sliding frame, a lever pivoted upon the end of the chamber and having a slot engaging thestud, a line attached to the end of the' lever, a conduit through which the line passes to a standard, pulleys guiding the line toward, up the interior of and from a standard to a frog, a sliding frame mounted on the frog and having flanges towhich the ends 'of the line are attached, a flange on the tongue of the frog projecting through a slot in the sliding frame and a spring between each side of the flange of the frog and the flanges of the sliding frame, a box sunk into the ground at a distance in front of the switch, a cam adapted to engage the drag-arm and pivoted to the'side of the box, a tapered approach leading to the cam, a tail-arm to the cam, a lever pivoted to the side of the box, a connecting-rod coupling the tail-arm to the lever, a line connected. to the other end of the lever, pulleys guiding the line toward and up the interior of a standard, a notched semaphore pivoted to the head of the standard, a tail-arm to the semaphore and to which the end of the line is secured, a pair of spring-operated contacts in. an electric-bell circuit adapted to be closed together by the depression of the semaphore tail-arm, a second pair of contacts in an electric-light circuit adapted to be similarly closed together to energize an electric lamp having a red globe, a third pair of contacts in a second electric-light circuit adapted to be closed together by the ascension of the tailarm of the semaphore to energize an electric lamp having a green globe, a peg passing into the groove of the tramway-rail at a distance behind the switch of the rail, a box alongside the rail, a bracket in the box, a lever pivoted to the bracket, a line attached to the end of the lever, pulleys guiding the line to and up the interior of the standard, a springpawl to which the line is attached and adapted to engage the notch of the semaphore, substantially as set forth.

4. In apparatus for the purpose described, means for operating a tramway-switch comprising a drum having teeth and a zigzag groove there being indents at each apex of the groove, a shaft upon which the drum is fixed, a ratchet-wheel secured to the shaft, a lever mounted freely upon the sh aft, a springoperated pawl pivoted to the lever and ad apted to engage the ratchet-wheel, means for reciprocating the lever, a spring-detent adapted to contact with the tail of the lever, a coilspring for reinforcing the detent, and a lug on the detent adapted to engage the teeth of the drum, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two witnesses, this 10th day of March, 1906.

LEONARD ATKINSON.

Witnesses:

ALFRED HENRY HART, LEONARD ROY SMITH.

ICC 

